Leveraging the Power of Networks for Business

Leveraging

Networking for BusinessAndy Lima, Associate Lecturer / Digital Strategist

Learn what networking is and why it is useful to your business

Realise the steps to successful networking

Find out how to have confidence when networking

Gain knowledge of how to engage your fellow networkers

Develop an interesting and varied pitch

Integrate online and offline networking

Discover useful business networking websites/tools

Understand how LinkedIn and other Social Media platforms

can help your networking

What are aiming for:

To understand the dynamics of “Networking” and

why we should build and grow them;

To be able to use effective networking tools in

order to confidently build strong connection for

optimum ROI;

Build, develop and promote your Networking

platforms to engage in conversation, to listen and to

help you to tell your story, share values, promote

your brand and also to sell your products and

services.

Learning Outcomes:

#OpenMIC

#whathowwhere

List one nugget of information

that you believe is key to

networking for you..

Discussion: Why

Networking???

#mythsB

S L

td.

Na

me

Un

kn

ow

n

#1 sales

#2 events

#3 meeting new people and getting to know them

#4 no need for strategy

#5 business cards handling

#6 not for introverts

#7 cynic solipsism

#8 it’s annoying & pushy

#9 it’s face-2-face only

#10 time bound

#11 end on its own

#12 influencing others

#13 right questions and buttons

13 Networking Myths

Sources: CBS, Brazen Life, Forbes, Management Consulted

A key characteristic of both traditional professions and new

‘corporate professionalism’ is the development of knowledge

(Gillmore and Williams, 2007; Muzio et al, 2011).

Networking is a key characteristic of developing

knowledge and behaviour that helps individuals manage and

develop their careers (Anderson-Gough et al, 2006).

The ultimate goal of networking is to create access to social

resources and the building of social capital that will increase

knowledge and influence (Seibert et al, 2001; Anderson-Gough et

al 2006).

A bit of Theory…

#what

#1 a mind-set

#2 a life-style

#3 about building bridges

#4 a strategic business leveraging tool

#5 about value creation

#6 marketing communication

#7 dialogue

#8 about building and maintaining

meaningful relationships

#9 for anyone and everyone

#10 cross-spatial and timeless

#11 a means to an end

#12 about sharing and engaging

#13likeness and intelligent persuasion

Networking is…

#1 people

#2 time

#3 money

#4 health

#5 satisfaction

#6 knowledge

#7 influence

#8 leadership

#9 mentorship

#10 opportunities

#11 sustainability

#12 competitiveness

#13 legacy

ROI of Networking…

#1 what is your current

situation

#2 define your goals

#3 build a strategy and define

tactics

#4 what is your timeframe

#5 action & implementation

plan

#6 KPIs and control

#7 review

#8 find a mentor

#9 encourage others

Networking and working

The “Nets”

we are only humans

building the right culture

quality vs. quantity

choose what to focus on

Start with what you’re familiar but

do not stay there

gradually step “outside”

Leveraging your

Networking Efforts…

conversation matters

creating business and social

value

content and context

listen for patterns, insights and

deeper questions

collective intelligence

Leveraging your Networking

Efforts…

“The level of your success is the level

of your personal communication…”

Draw a quick SWOT of your

networking abilities

Discussion: what

is stopping you?

#how

Discussion: How to

Network???

Enthusiasm (who) - identity

Enchantment (what) - behaviour

Engagement (how) – content/substance

The three E’s for

Networking Building

Effectiveness =

Motion x

Content

Context

E=m.c2

Communication

Environment

Time

Three Variables of Network

Building

The most successful managers in a US study spent 70% more

time engaged in networking activities and 10% more time

engaged in routine communication activities than their less

successful counterparts;

Social perception – accuracy in perceiving others; traits,

intentions and motives;

Impression management – for inducing positive reactions;

Persuasiveness – able to change others’ views or behaviour;

Social adaptability – in a wide range of social situations;

Expressiveness – to generate enthusiasm in others.

Social competence and

skills

work to find gaps in your arsenal and then

mindfully practice them

Consider being a peer mentored/a peer

mentor

Consider what you want to achieve from

networking and mentoring, have a strategy and

be aware of new ways of doing it;

Recognizing how other people like to network.

What to improve…

Make a list of networking

activities you have been

involved in and the ones you

want to join

Discussion: Where

to Network???

#Where

”If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do

what I am about to do today?”

Steve Jobs (1955-2011)

Preferred forms of

Networking

email39%

social media27%

face-to-face24%

phone10%

Source: ECM/2014

Male x Female Networking

Behaviour

05

1015202530354045

Female

Male

Source: ECM/2014

#1 off only

#2 off plus on

#3 on plus off

#4 on only

#5 capability

#6 resources

#7 momentum

#8 promote or ditch

#9 anticipate

#onplusoff

why LinkedIn?

networking solutions

optimising your profile

growing your network of influencers

pulse is alive

content marketing

Advertising on LinkedIn

Groups

Testimonials

#LinkedIn

Facebook for business

the big three

building your Network

contents

metrics & analytics

branding

community

followership

what else?

#facebook

why Tweet?

targeted follow

build your lists

re-tweet often

integrate platforms

use URL “shorteners”

Use/plan your harsh-tags

rich media content allowed

rich critical mass then balance

followers/following out

use @s and set goals

#Twitter

Develop you “Networking” Pitch…

UVP / Business you are in / how

are you adding value?

Discussion: What

are the Benefits…

“Where focus goes, energy grows”

Anthony Robbins

#Focus

#1 your “friendly neighbourhood”

browser

#2 apps

#3 crowdsourcing

#4 social networks

#5 online communities

#6 wikkies

#7 webinars

#8 meetups

#9 agregators

#Spaces

#tools

What’s Next…

What’s next….

create and build a dynamic “Network” strategy and structure

then grow them;

Use confidently all the tools at your disposal and integrate all

of them to optimise your ROI;

Develop your Networking platforms to promote your business:

engage in conversations, then tell your story, share values,

promote your brand and also to sell your products and services.

Blog:

www.nomobizz/wordpress.com

Twitter:

@andylimauk

LinkedIn:

Click on the QR Code

#thankyou :)